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COPYRIGHTED 
1914 

AQUA LIFE CO. 

SEYMOUR. CONN. 



it CA> 



THIS BOOK ON THE CULTURE OF 
BULLFROGS, HAS BEEN PREPARED 
FROM OFFICIAL GOVERNMENT STA- 
STISTICS, RESEARCH AND THE AC- 
TUAL BREEDING AND DEVELOPING 
OF BULLFROGS. 

—THE AUTHOR. 







AUG 21 1914 @,, 



A379193 



FROG CULTURE FOR PROFIT. 

To the skeptical regarding bullfrog culture. 

Mr. Robert Seeds was growing alfalfa in Penn- 
sylvania for some time before the Agricultural Pro- 
fessors would admit it could be grown there. 



Frogs are Batrachians, a class of vertebrae ani- 
mals occupying a position between fish and reptiles. 
Batrachian eggs or spawn are deposited and hatched 
in water into tadpoles, which are very different from 
the adults in appearance and living, as they are 
wholly adapted to water life, and while living in the 
water, breathing by gills in early life, they breathe 
with lungs, which replace the gills as age advances 
and the transformation takes place. 

There are many types of frogs, all of which 
authorities agree are edible; however the bullfrog 
owing to size and other desirable qualifications, is 
the type cultivated, and is the frog of which we 
will treat: 

The bullfrog is found in about every part of the 
United States and Canada east of the Rocky Moun- 
tains, and is the most aquatic of the frog family; 
however, he spends many hours in shady nooks 



under big water-plant leaves or beside old stumps, 
awaiting a chance to catch the water-beetle, or in 
fact any living thing that may come his way, but is 
never found very far from a body of water. 

The male bullfrog can be distinguished from the 
female by the size of the ear, which in the male is 
much larger than the eye; in the female about the 
same size as the eye. The male is usually the 
smaller in body size, and in color usually plain 
green ; the female in color is more brown or brown- 
ish green, and perhaps a trifle spotted. The color 
changes, however, from time to time in the bullfrog, 
just as it does in other batrachian life, so the eye and 
ear comparison is the more accurate. 

It is a very common error to consider all small 
Irogs as immature bullfrogs, for a bullfrog is a bull- 
frog from the time it is hatched, and it grows to a 
size that no other specie could obtain should it live 
a century. Twelve to fifteen years is the length of 
bullfrog life. 

The bullfrog is a peculiar animal in more ways 
than one. In his life there seems to be none of that 
solicitude for the welfare of the helpless young or 
for his mate or brother and he seems to live about 




A Pond That Was The Beginning 
of One Frog Farm 



all his life alone coming in contact with others of 
his breed (by design) only in the spring during the 
mating season. Bullfrog spawn n deposited m the 
water and is fertilized by the male, after which the 
eggs undergo a process of cell multiplication, grad- 
ually developing into tadpoles, without any care or 
^'.ttention whatever from the parent frogs. 

Bullfrogs are inclined to be cannibalistic, espe- 
cially when underfed and culturisis separate their 
frogi according to size, also arrange for feeding, 
ihus overcoming this apparent drawback. 

The value of bullfrogs as a food is now thor- 
oughly recognized; the meat is white, delicate, (not 
unlike young chicken) wholesome and when fried 
in butter or prepared a la Maryland with cream- 
gravy is delicious. Frog meat saute is another pleas- 
ing dish, and served very generally m New Orleans 
and Southern city eating places. In the better res- 
taurants of Chicago, St. Louis, Philadelphia and 
Boston, frog meat a la Newburgh is listed on the 
bill of fare at rather fancy prices. There is a tra- 
dition that only the hind legs of a frog are to be 
eaten, but if the frog is large enough to pay for dress- 
ing, the trunk and shoulders are just as desirable as 
the legs. 



For a long time, the French people alone availed 
themselves of this delicacy, though according to 
history, it w^as well known to the Romans. From 
France the use of this food passed into Germany, 
England and other parts of Europe, later into the 
United States where now frogs are more generally 
consumed than in any other country. Back in 1 897 
U. S. Fisheries Commission report shows the yearly 
cost of frog meat to be not less than $145,000.00, 
and the annual increase since then is wonderful. 

The unrestricted hunting of bullfrogs threatens 
their practical extinction in most places, especially 
where they are in an abundance, and shipping fa- 
cilities are at hand. Already a marked decrease in 
the supply is manifest in New York, Chicago and 
other consuming centers; prices have gone up in 
accordance, and in order to derive some of the 
profits and supply the demand, hundreds of people 
are now preparing to engage in bullfrog culture, 
while others have frog farms of no mean propor- 
tions, showing immense financial returns on the time 
and money invested. 



.^ -0%, 



i;^. 




Bullfrog Spawn 
More Vegetation is Necessary in this Aquarium. 



Successful frog farms are to be found pretty gen- 
erally in the Eastern half of the United States, and 
rather extensively in California, where perhaps there 
are more than in any one State. However, the irog 
usually cultivated in California is what is known as 
the 'Trench" frog, but as this specie does not begin 
to attain the size, the bullfrog is being very exten- 
sively introduced, and is the more satisfactory. 

The possibilities for any one to derive a very good 
income from the culture and marketing of bullfrogs 
are unusual and the surprising thing is that more 
have not taken it up — no doubt the reason is, that 
it has not been brought to notice. The industry 
shows infinitely more with less capital invested, care 
and time given than chickens, squab or in fact any 
small live-stock, whose flesh is marketed for food. 

If you are serious regarding a start, go into the 
matter earnestly, using common horse-sense. As ex- 
perience is the only satisfactory teacher where animal 
lif is concerned, it is advisable to make a moderate 
beginning, which will enable one to feel his way and 
learn as he goes. 



^ 



It is possible to make a beginning in a tank, or a 
small pool, in which have water about a foot deep 
with sand and pebbles so arranged that it will make 
shallow water at one end and deep water at the 
other; in this place a quantity of water vegetation. 

If you wish to start with frogs, secure matured 
ones, and remember to remove them shortly after the 
eggs are deposited and fertilized, as the frog's actions 
in jumping and swimming about very often upset 
one*s plans. 

Should you wish to use egg spawn, the same can 
be had, and will incubate and hatch just as though 
the frogs themselves had deposited them, as day- 
light and the temperature of water have all to do 
with the incubation. After the eggs have started to 
incubate, and appear quite black to the naked eye, 
you are assured there is life and progress, but should 
the eggs turn white or partially so, life is no more. 
For some reason or other the eggs have been killed 
and you must start with a fresh lot. 

Observations as follows were recorded from an 
experiment: Bullfrogs were taken from pond last 
week in April and placed in an aquarium ; two days 



^ 



after the frogs were changed, the female deposited 
an egg mass about five inches in diameter, containing 
in the neighborhood of 5,000 eggs (conclusive evi- 
dence that it matters little where frogs are so long as 
the environments are water, some growing vegeta- 
tion rnd daylight). 

The eggs become attached to the twigs in the 
water put there for the purpose. The male fertilizes 
the egg mass when passing over it, which was re- 
peated several times, both frogs removed. The eggs 
are now so close together that the entire mass seems 
dark colored, but covered with a clear gelatinous sub- 
stance, and being transparent, allows us to watch the 
process of development. The egg is round and 
when first deposited, part of the yolk can be seen. 
It is claimed that the dark portion of the egg at 
the top (later the whole egg becomes black) allows 
more absorption of the sun's heat than would a light 
color, thus encouraging development, which depends 
wholly on temperature. 




Two Very Satisfactory Water Plants 



Development of the egg begins an hour or so 
after fertiHzation, but to the naked eye, the change 
is very sHght during the first three days. If eggs are 
examined with a magnifying glass there seems to be 
a groove at the top of each. This groove finally 
circles the egg and the second groove appears at right 
angles and r?pidly encircles the egg, thus dividing 
it into four parts. Other external changes take pkce, 
which show the beg'nning of the tadpole formation. 

By the fourth day the eggs seem to change very 
much; they have become long anad the line down 
the middle marks the back of the future frog. 

The fifth day again the advancement shows; the 
length of the egg is still greater and a projection, 
which we found later to form the tail of the tadpole. 
IS very evident. 

During the sixth dny, the end which proved to be 
head, and the other end which will be the tail are 
unmistakable. 

The seventh and eighth days the head now shows 
plainly and the tadpoles move in the eggs while we 
watch. 



The ninth and lenth days bring us to the hatching 
stage. Eggs are hatching all the while, and at the 
end of the tenth day, most of the tadpoles are 
hatched and are clinging by little feelers or suckers 
to the gelatinous mass or to some of the water vege- 
tation in the tank. 

On the morning of the twelfth day, all those that 
ire going to hatch have done so, and now we have 
life in earnest — a living thing which is very interest- 
ing mdeed to watch. Our tadpole seems to be the 
busiest thing imaginable, wagging its rudder-like tail 
vigorously; then quiet for a moment or two, as if 
resting, only to commence more actively than ever. 
The bullfrog tadpole grows rapidly and seems to 
want something to eat constantly. Some substance 
which he seems to get from the vegetation growing in 
the water appears very satisfying, but after the 
young tadpole was about a week old, we fed a 
quantity of prepared food. 

This hatch has been large and we find it necessary 
to remove half of the tadpoles to another aquarium, 
as more space and water is necessary. Right here 
we discovered that vegetable growth, and plenty of 



it, gave the tadpoles no end of comfort and satis- 
faction. 

During the first few months the tadpole grows 
in size but no change m body formation takes place. 
Later two (2) very small hind legs are noticed 
which slowly grow to good length and by degrees 
are used to help propel in swimmjng. Later on, 
when the transformation stage comes, two (2) for- 
ward arms shoot through the openings, that up to 
now were used as gills. The gill*^ are now closing 
and lungs are taking their place. At this stage the 
tadpole comes to the surface often to get air, and 
other actions are interesting to watch. At this time, 
tadpoles were all transferred to a pool with a mud 
bottom. 

Should one wish to pass the egg-spawn stage m 
his start or education and begin with tadpoles from 
three (3) to five (3) months old, it would be cover- 
ing a lot of ground, etc., etc. 

Bullfrog tadpoles can be more easily secured from 
known sources and can be gotten during a greater 
number of months than can egg-spawn. 

The months egg-spawn can be collected are all 
of April, May and June. The ideal month depends 
on climatic location. Whether North or South. 



THREE THINGS NECESSARY FOR 
THE SUCCESSFUL BREEDING AND DE- 
VELCPING OF BULLFROGS: 

( 1 ) PROTECTION FROM NATURAL 
ENEMIES. 

(2) COMPLETE SEPARATION AC- 
CORDING TO SIZE. 

(3) PROPER VARIETY AND QUAN- 
TITY OF FOOD. 



FOR THE FRCG FARMER. 

The success accomplished by Frog Farmers in 
many parts of the United States can be accomplished 
by any one who can get a small piece of swampy 
ground, or a small pond, and these can be found 
on almost any farm, or can be very easily made 
where there is a small stream of water anywhere 
near. 

It is claimed that more money is made from an 
acre of swampy land or a pond that has been abso- 
lutely useless, when converted into a froggery, than 
twenty acres of good land planted in wheat or corn, 
and all done with little or no labor or expense. 

Don't let us forget the possibilities in a small place, 
even a back yard, for we have some very successful 
frog breeders, who have begun in an artificial pond 
dug in a place near the house ; some others who have 
started in a small cave, and one in particular who 
is still using the dug-out part of an old quarry. 

We advise in beginning that it is best and cheapest 
to start with frogs at least three years old, for that 
is about as young as bullfrogs will breed. Once a 
plant is established and stocked with mature frogs. 




n 



one season is all that is necessary to make the revenue 
constant, and about all profit, as the care and feeding 
is of small account. 

The froggery or frog farm should be divided into 
at least four parts, and a: many more as the num- 
ber demands. The first divisions are to be used 
for the hatching and developing; the others for tad- 
poles, and the balance for the different size frogs. 
All of the divisions must have a mud bottom with 
some large stones, and plenty of water vegetation, 
as the tadpole uses this as food, and frog for shade 
and hidmg places. FROGS MUST HAVE 
PLENTY OF SHADE, and also make it possible 
for them to spend a great deal of time out of the 
water on a piece of land or log. It is also very im- 
portant that the division where your frogs are to be, 
to have them well fenced at a height of not less than 
four feet (boards or a fine mesh wire net may be 
used) ; and if your division is in such a position that 
would make it possible for the frogs to burrow out, 
it will be necessary for you to dig out two or three 
feet of the mud, put down half inch wire net; and 
put your mud back, so if they do burrow, they can 




Note Length of Frog Legs 



only get as far as the net; this is an escape proof 
frog developing section. Where possible these in- 
structions should be followed, as bullfrogs are strong, 
great leapers, and wonderful burrowers. Always 
have in mind the importance of keeping frogs of one 
size only together. 

From twenty-five to fifty mature frogs are a great 
plenty to be used for breeding and a less number 
will usually suffice. 

The laying out of a plant, of course, depends 
much upon of the land and the water supply. A 
pond of any shape, but containing equivalent to 
50 X 25 will safely hold five hundred mature frogs, 
and 25,000 tadpoles have been developed in a pool 
20 X 1 5 feet, water about 2 feet deep. 

The water of the frogs' home may be, to some 
extent, stagnant, but it is very important that the 
water be pure, for frogs like other animal life, do 
best on pure water, while polluted, unclean pools 
soon bring about death. 

The breeding time, for bullfrogs is from March 
until June, depending on the location, whether north 
or south, and is most satisfactory during a warm rain 




Bullfrog Tadpole About Six Months Old 



spell. One male for each female is necessary, as 
they mate the same as warm blooded animals, re- 
maining together for hours; very shortly after which 
the female deposits her spawn, and the male fer- 
tilizes the egg mass, after the manner of fish. The 
eggs are deposited by the female in shallow, very 
slow runnmg, or still water; in one large mass with 
sort of a gelatinous covering. The number of eggs 
laid varies greatly and seems to depend on age, size 
of individual, etc. Race suicide is not practised 
by the frog, and the breeder profits greatly by the 
size of the usual family. The female spawns from 
four to eight thousand eggs; the sun-rays and the 
temperature of the water bring about the egg devel- 
opment. Sixty-five to seventy degrees Fahrenheit 
being considered ideal temperatures for incubation, 
and from ten to thirty days to hatch. This variation 
m time is brought about by climatic conditions. 

There are many enemies of the egg mass, as fish, 
turtles, ducks, water snakes, musk rats, etc., are 
known to devour great quantities. 

After hatching the tadpole's first food is the gela- 
tinous envelope which protected the egg from which 



1 




he hatched ; shortly afterwards he will devour almost 
anything given him, but depends largely on some 
substance, which he seem 3 to get off of the water 
vegetation. It was thought for a long time thr.t the 
tadpole lived on a vegetable diet, but it is now 
known, that while he can live on vegetation ex- 
clusively, they thrive and make much better progress 
when some other food is fed; combmation and pre- 
pared foods are extensively used. 

The bullfrog tadpole grows to a very large size, 
rnd often measures from five to seven inches. He 
also has very many enemies, and it is necessary that 
the pools be kept free of fish, turtles, water snakes, 
etc., also bullfrogs, as the bullfrog seems to relish 
his own tadpole, as well as any other food. The 
tadpole develops into a frog the spring following the 
year he was hatched. At the transformation stage, 
when the bulltadpole becomes a bullfrog, the open- 
ing on each side of the upper body (the gills) are 
closed by the forward arms coming through, and at 
this time lungs take their place. 

Frogs fed right do remarkably well. They will 
not take meat or other dead food from the ground, 



and it has to be offered in some attractive manner — 
that IS, shaken or made to move in some way to sug- 
gest life. 

Frogs begin to burrow in September in the north- 
east section of this country and later bury themselves 
in the mud where they stay dormant, protected from 
frost, etc., all wmter until spring. However, in the 
extreme south, and west of the Rocky Mountains 
frosts do not hibernate. 




MARKETS FOR FROGS AND FROG 
MEAT. 

The demand for frog meat in cities is enormous 
and exceeds the supply many times over. Any first 
class hotel, restaurant or fish dealer are always in the 
market for bullfrog meat. 

Every dealer in live fish, frogs, etc., is ready to 
contract for large numbers and will take frogs from 
three inches up in size. Bullfrogs are measured 
from tip of nose to base of body between the hind 
legs. The supplying of breeding frogs to those 
stocking a place is an exceptionally good outlet. 

There is no good reason why you should go a 
great distance from your place looking for a market; 
you have as good outlets as anyone right at your 
door. The better family trade, hotels, restaurants 
and fish markets for the meat; schools, laboratories, 
frog breeders and many others for the live specimens. 




100 One Year Old Bullfrogs were Fed and Developed 
in this Coop, with Water Tank in One End. 



METHODS OF BULLFROG CATCHING. 

The easiest way to catch bullfrogs in a pond ot 
water or in any of their natural haunts, is at night, 
with the aid and use of a lantern fitted with a reflec- 
tor and the use of a scoop net. On seeing the light 
the frogs seem curious and will bob up and appear 
from unexpected places, at which time throw your 
net over him, rather than under, for if you dive 
under as one would in scooping crabs or fish, you 
will be surprised how many you will miss, as the 
frog naturally jumps and if he gets a footing, which 
it has been found he often does when net is brought 
up from under water, his jump will get him safely 
away and you will not be liable to get him that 
night. 

To catch the bullfrog in daylight, the most suc- 
cessful method has been found to attach a bit of 
red material or meat on the end of a fish line which, 
in turn is attached to a long fishpole; dangle this 
over the frog's head or rather near it and Mr. Bull- 
frog will soon be convinced that it's alive, his body 
will make a quick move and his tongue will shoot 
out, down will go your bait and you will have the 



1 




frog. If you wish to keep the specimen ahve, do not 
use a fish hook — it is not necessary, as the bait is 
swallowed. 

Many live frogs can be kept in an enclosure for 
a long time if a little water is kept in one end, so 
frogs can get at it, and if fed twice or three times a 
week. 

PACKING FOR SHIPMENT. 

When frogs are taken from the water, they should 
be washed and packed in the shipping crate, to- 
gether with some moss or water holding vegetation. 
Pack in case large enough to allow of the frogs 
moving; cover securely with burlap or similar ma- 
terial, which generously moisten with water — that is, 
if shipping in the warm months; if m the winter, ship 
dry, packed in sawdust, or something similar, as pro- 
vision must be made to protect the frogs from frost. 
Do not use wire to cover your crate for the frogs 
will jump against it and cut and bruise themselves 
badly. 

Frog meat shipments arrive satisfactorily when 
wrapped in cheap cheese cloth and packed in ice. 



1 




FOOD AND THE FEEDING OF THE 
BULLFROG. 

The food and the feeding of the bullfrog tadpole 
is a very simple matter, as the tadpole eats most 
anything. For the very young, rice flour has proven 
most satisfactory. Later, say, from tw^o (2) weeks 
old, they will consume small bits of meat and seem 
to get some cort of nourishment off the stems and 
leaves of the vegetation that grows in water. 

Food for the developed bullfrog requires a little 
more thought, as they will eat, naturally, only living 
things. 

For a moderate number the food problem is not 
difficult, as a sufficient amount of live food is nat- 
urally about, but for a large number of frogs some 
m.eans to attract insect life must be u^ed. This is 
not the problem it may seem at first, as experience 
has taught that molasses, honey or moist sugar spread 
on boards and placed adiacent to the divided sec- 
tion*? or ponds, prove excellent inducements to bring 
the live food for our frogs. 

Meat and liver serve as very satisfactory food 
when live food is shy or when you are keeping frog 



stock in the cellar or elsewhere over the winter. All 
sorts of schemes have to be resorted to, to get the 
bullfrog to take this kind of food, as frogs seem to 
insist on the food moving before he will consider it 
and many have starved to death m quarters where 
there has been a quantity of meat lying about. Bits 
of meat have to be shaken before them to imitate 
life to get the frog to t?.ke it naturally. When the 
meat is forcibly put into the frog's mouth, however, 
he will swallow it almost immediately. The writer 
has kept many and m-^ny a frog in excellent chape 
ond condition in just this manner. 

Perhaps the very best method is to propagate your 
own live frog food. Crawfish, fiddler crabs or even 
the common earth worm serve as a good food for 
bullfrogs. Why not secure a few and propagate in 
quantities? The fact is the bullfrog will eat any- 
thing alive that he can get in his mouth; therefore 
anything alive that you can secure cheaply and con- 
veniently is your frog food. 

It is most amusing to watch a large bullfrog eat. 
He will sit on his hind legs, very much like a squirrel 
and use his two arms to manipulate and adjust the 



object to fit in his mouth so it can be swallowed. 
His digestive organs must be unusually good, for 
about everything taken seems to be swallowed whole. 

Of course when it is necessary to feed frogs ar- 
tificially, it takes time, but when you attend to this 
but twice or three times a week, the time is of small 
account. 

It has been by no means proven that frogs can be 
overfed; on the contrary they are very good feeders, 
but a moderate amount of food is safer than gorg- 
ing. 

There are no better Roach, Water Bug or Mouse 
catchers in the world than the bullfrog. Let him 
loose in a cellar or any place that might be inhabi- 
ted with the bugs, etc., and the frog will clean it 
up in a very few nights. 



ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS MOST FRE- 
QUENTLY ASKED. 

Bullfrogs are considered at a marketable age, for 
any purpose, except breeding at six (6) months 
old — that is six (6) months from the time of trans- 
formation from tadpole. 

Reports and deductions would suggest the South, 
East or West and California as having a little advan- 
tage over some other locations for bullfrog culture, 
as the frogs do not hibernate at all in the extreme 
South and it has been found the Eastern bullfrog 
is dormant a very short while, if at all, when taken 
to the Pacific Coast. Under these little advantages 
a slight development is made in size at earlier age 
than where the bullfrog goes into Winter quarters 
for months. 

Generally speaking, one part of the country is as 
good as another as we have to get as near natural 
conditions as possible to be a successful frog farmer 
and naturally, right now, the bullfrog is very plenti- 
ful in Maine and they are very thick in the waters 
of Mississippi and Louisiana (note the spread of 
geography) and before they were hunted so ruth- 
lessly, bullfrogs were to be found in quantities in 
about every State East of the Rocky Mountains. 



! 




n 



Proof enough, isn't it, that all climates are suitable 
or the bullfrog arranges his life to suit the climate. 

As to cost of starting a frog farm, it all depends 
on your own ideas or ambitions. One can begin with 
as few as a dozen breeders and about 100 running 
feet of a small mesh wire, for fencmg, etc. 

Should bullfrogs come into your possession be- 
fore you have your place ready, it is an easy matter 
to keep the live stock alright in a small enclosure 
for months, if a small quantity of water is placed 
where they can get at it and food given them twice 
a week. 

Many, many times the frogs cirrivmg at a new 
place with new surroundings, etc., will not eat nat- 
urally. This may be from fright, homesickness or 
"what not" ; however it very often happens, and in 
this event, take each frog, open its mouth, into which 
place a chunk of meat about the size of thumb 
and usually as soon as the frog tastes, the meat is 
swallowed. You understand, live things are the nat- 
ural frog food and a small fish, a worm that will 
move some or anything up to a rat, if the frog is 
big enough to get it in his mouth, is relished. 

Bullfrogs will live and do alright in slightly brack- 
ish water. 




«I)-37 •* 



SEX CONTROL IS POSSIBLE WITH 
FROGS. 

Experiments made by PROFESSOR OSCAR 
RIDDLE of the Biology Dept. of the University 
of Chicago, 111., have proven to his satisfaction that 
sex control is a very simple and easy matter with 
frogs. An experiment under his own direction and 
observation resulted in 100 per cent, male when 
the eggs or spawn were kept in cold storage till they 
were ripe before allowing to start incubating and 
another experiment where the hatch was forced early 
after the spawn was deposited by parent frog, the 
hatch was almost entirely female. 

He claims that the secret of sex control of even 
higher life (the frog is one of the lower order of 
life) lies in the determination of the time at which 
ihe embryonic egg is to be started incubating. 

Frogs are more and more used for all sorts of 
experiments and the bullfrog is the most desirable 
for such purposes. 

IVe are often asked for names of people who are 
bullfrog farming. 

Enclose a 2-cent stamp with your request and 
names and addresses will be sent you. 



THE NEW YORK TIMES. 1913. 



CHEMISTRY MATURES 
LIFE FROM THE EGG 



Frog Produced by Science Grew 

to Aduit Stage, Dr. Loeb 

Tells Doctors. 



SECRET OF SPERMATOZOON 



Rockefeller Institute Worker Learned 

It and How to-lmltate Its Effect 

In Egg Fertilization. 



Prof. Jacques Loeb of the Rockefeller 
Institute, speaking before the Manhattan 
Aledical Society at the Wurzburger Hof- 
brau last night, descrfbed some of his re- 
cent experiments In artificial reproduc- 
tion by fertilization of specimens of ani- 
mal life that developed to maturity. Prof. 
Loeb e.xuitcd great interest by relating 
that a female frog, produced from an 
artificially fertilized egg, was found on 
dissection after accidental death to be 
equipped for parenthood. This frog had 
reached adult Jife. 



Tlie physicians, over whom Dr. 15 
jamin T. Tilton presided, followed clo 
Dr. Loeb's description of his experlmrr 
Prof. Gary N- Calkins of Columbia V 
Versity led the discussion which follow 
Prof. Loeb asserted that as a result of 
expcrlmeuts he had not only learned h 
to imitate, the effect of the spermataz( 
in nature, but to learn the nature of 
•permatozoon itself and Us method of 
ticm. He said : 

*' The egg in nature is only able to 
vclop after the spermatozocJn has cnt-^i 
Into it. The spermatozoon calls the 
not into life— for it had life already 
into a new being. The question b. 
biology has been, 'How?' I 

" Previously biologists answered t 
Question in the same way that a i 
years ago was answered questions cj 
cerning contagious diseases, by hypot 
scs. by guesses. Biologists compared 
egg to a clock, and said the sperma 
zoon wound it. Liebeg put his metapj 
into terms of chemistry and called ! 
spermatozoon -a ferment which set up | 
brations in the egg. 

Professor Loeb explained' "that ] 
pggs of frogs were started on the rd 
to development by merelv puncturi] 

If*®!?:^ '^t!^'-'^' , '.^® ^^^^' convinced hi 
that the breaking of the outside of t 
CSS was the important factor, accoj 
pllBhed in nature by chemical actil 
of the .spermatzoon. in his earlier 4 
perlments by chemical dissolution i 
Its natural protection. Experimonl 
both With naturally fertilized al 
artificially fertilized eggs, he sal 
Bhowed that the first effect of t' 
formation of the halo was to increal 
oxidization six times. This oxidizatid 
,he said, was the force which stirrl 
ithe cell to development. i 








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